Carnival Cruise Hacks Debunked

There are a ton of cruise hacks and myths to be found on the internet, but are they true? Many of the list of cruise hacks are general, not specific to one cruise line. Do these hacks hold up on a Carnival cruise?

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Cruise Hack # 1: Bring magnetic hooks – ALL walls are magnetic

All cruise ship walls are not always magnetic. This is very much a myth. Some Carnival cruise ship’s walls are magnetic and some are not.

However, something is usually magnetic. Sometimes we have had to hang stuff from the ceiling. Sometimes it is the seams in between the walls. Some Carnival ships have magnetic walls. Some do not.

All of that being said, we always bring magnetic hooks. Sometimes that means our hats are hanging from the ceiling but the hooks are so small, it’s worth the gamble.

Verdict: True and False

Cruise Hack # 2: Don’t go to the main buffet for lunch on embarkation day

Many, especially older, cruise blogs will tell you not to go to the main buffet for lunch on embarkation day. They say you should go to one of the sit down restaurants instead. This is simply not applicable these days on Carnival.

Sure, there are guy’s burgers, pizza and burritos that are technically not the “main buffet” but they are. They will also be super crowded because Carnival likes to keep it’s lunch food congregated in the same place.

If they have a barbecue or something else on the side on deck 5, it might be open, but it might not. It seems to depend on the amount of crew they have on that particular sailing.

But the sit down restaurant is never open on embarkation day. You are stuck in the hectic rush of the buffet.

Verdict: False

Cruise Hack # 3: You can’t bring a power strip

This one is true. If they discover a power strip in your luggage they will confiscate it and hold it until the end of your cruise (when you can go pick it back up). If your cabin steward discovers you have a power strip, they will confiscate it and again you will have to pick it up at the end of the cruise.

Verdict: True

Cruise Hack # 4: You can’t bring an extension cord

As long as your extension cord does not include a surge protector, you are free to bring an extension cord on Carnival.

Verdict: False

Need an extension cord for a cruise? This extension cord is the one we have taken on many, many Carnival cruises and never had a problem with. The best part? It’s 15 feet and so you no longer have to worry if there are power outlets on both sides of the bed!

Trying to bring an extension cord for a CPAP sleep machine? Check out what you need to know before going on a Carnival cruise with a CPAP here.

Cruise Hack # 5: It’s worth it to buy the drink package

This one really depends on you. But start by doing some math. Think about: How many sodas do you drink a day? How many specialty coffees do you drink a day? How many alcoholic drinks will you order in a day?

Unless you’re ordering 5-8 drinks in a day, it’s probably not worth it. (Remember water, filtered coffee, tea, lemonade and juice in the morning are free and unlimited.)

However, if you are close to that number and trying to decide, it may be worth it. The feeling that you can go grab any drink you want without worrying about how much it will cost at the end is a great feeling.

My guess is that most people don’t actually drink enough to get their money’s worth (or the cruise lines wouldn’t sell them), but the feeling being able to drink whatever, whenever is worth it to a lot of people.

Verdict: It depends

Cruise Hack # 6: You can bring soda and wine on board

It’s really true. You can bring soda and wine on board for free and drink it anywhere on the ship. Each person is allowed 12 cans of soda and one bottle of wine.

There is even a mini fridge to keep your drinks cold!

Check out the official Carnival policy here.

Word of caution: If you bring wine, bring a twist top bottle or a wine opener (completely allowed). Ask your cabin steward or go ask at a bar for glasses. If you bring the bottle of wine to the dining room and expect them to open it and pour it for you, they will charge you.

Verdict: True

Cruise Hack # 7: Always book a shore excursion through the cruise line

I know a lot of people disagree with this one, but I agree with it. There is so much security involved if you book your shore excursions through the cruise line. They may be more expensive, but it would also be very expensive if you were on a 3rd party excursion and your mini van broke down. How much would it cost if the ship left you and you were stuck in Jamaica.

That would be expensive and a big headache.

But if you’ve booked a shore excursion through the ship, the ship will not leave you. So no worries.

Verdict: True

Cruise Hack # 8: You can fit everything you need in a carry on

I cannot describe how false I think this is. I find you need a lot more clothes on a cruise than you do normally. On a normal day, I wear one outfit. But on a cruise you need swimwear, casual clothes, day clothes, evening clothes, so many clothes!

I know, it’s carnival. You’re not expected to get dressed up. You can wear shorts to dinner in the main dining room.

But you probably don’t want to wear what you sweated in all day in Nassau again to dinner that night.

It’s a little different if you are flying to your cruise, but if we’re driving, we show up with a ton of luggage! Why not? You hand it over to a porter and it shows up at your cabin door.

If you’re willing to pay a little for the privilege, you can literally never touch your luggage. A porter will help you take it out of your car and put it on the ship, then you just leave it outside your door at night and a porter will help you collect it from off the ship and deliver it to your car.

Bring all the clothes.

Verdict: False

Want to read a more detailed rational for why you need bigger luggage for a cruise? Check out Why you should OVERPACK for a cruise.

Looking for new big luggage? I’m a big fan of these Samsonite Spinners.

Cruise Hack # 9: Take the stairs

In general, the smaller the ship the faster the elevators are, but if you are only going up or down a few flights of stairs it is still usually faster to take the stairs.

On embarkation day, I once walked up 9 flights of stairs (and huffed and puffed on a few landings) and still waited around before the elevator with my spouse and luggage appeared. (It was too crowded for us both to fit with our carry-ons. So instead of waiting, I chose to walk.)

Taking the stairs is the biggest time saver at busy times of day. It also makes me feel better about eating a dessert with all four meals every day.

Verdict: True

Cruise Hack # 10: Pack a bathing suit in your carry on

If you think you want to get in a pool on embarkation day, absolutely! Your luggage won’t be there within a couple of hours and if you want to jump right in the pool you should. The rooms open at 1:30 so you’ll have a place to change.

Verdict: True

Cruise Hack # 11: Pack clothes for dinner in your carry on

Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever changed clothes to go to the dining room the first night on a Carnival cruise. The main dining room is just not that dressy. The clothes you’ve worn all day are just fine. However, if you think you want to change clothes and you have an early dining time, your luggage might not be there yet. But I wouldn’t bother.

Verdict: False 95% of the time

Cruise Hack # 12: Save money by drinking in port

This is only true if you are willing to walk. The senor frogs, fat tuesday, margaritaville type places may actually have drinks that are MORE expensive than those on the ship. However, if you are willing to walk a little further from port you are more likely to find something with a reasonable price tag.

But those frozen fruity drinks are expensive everywhere there is a tourist in sight.

Verdict: False

Cruise Hack # 13: Travel with ziplock bags

I use ziplock bags all the time. Larger ones can be used on excursions to keep things dry or pack wet swimsuits in. Smaller ones can be used to hold jewelry or keep a snack fresh for later. (You are not allowed to take non pre-packaged food off the ship into foreign ports but that doesn’t mean you don’t want to save some cheerios to eat as a midnight snack on the ship.)

Verdict: True

Cruise Hack # 14: Unpack your suitcase when you get it

Fully unpack your suitcase whenever you get all your luggage. Even if you are just on a short cruise, it is worth it to unpack your suitcase and utilize the drawer and closet space. On a long cruise, it’s essential.

Verdict: True

Cruise Hack # 15: Go to specialty dining…for lunch

Some of the specialty dining restaurants offer lunch options. Some of them offer a different type of food for lunch. For example, the Italian restaurant often turns into a pasta bar at lunch where you can choose the type of pasta and toppings you want.

Some of the specialty restaurants are still at cost for lunch, but will offer a similar menu to the dinner one but at a discounted price.

Verdict: True

There are a ton of cruise hacks out there and some of these fit some cruise lines more than others. Some of the hacks are nothing more than myths ready to be debunked, while others are true and important to know on ever cruise. Others are important, but definitely not a secret because everyone else has probably read it too!

Whichever hacks you choose to follow (or not), just remember you are on vacation and make the most of it!